In the sitcom world, there are shows that deal with the funny that can happen in a closed environment, and there are those open to any possibility. That’s better known as workplace versus family. Neil Flynn is a veteran of workplace hilarity, having spent years toiling as Janitor on Scrubs. Patricia Heaton, on the other hand, has the majority of her experience in the family genre, albeit as a stay-at-home mom. So both are exploring new territory, to an extent.
What’s my point? It’s always fun to see comedy in mundane things, laughing at situations you yourself were in just this morning. Making lunch, juggling a sick kid and work, getting time with your spouse, caring for a dog with emphysema … who didn’t deal with one of those yesterday?
Okay, so I was a bit surprised that The Middle called on the wacky extended family already. It was for a reason, but there’s so much going on in that house that I felt the slightest hint of concern that this might be some misguided course correction by the producers. Note to them if they’re reading: we don’t need it!
I’m also wondering if the Heck family is penny-pinching, or poor. They’re meant to be caught in the economic crisis, but shopping for carpet remnants sounds a lot more Malcolm in the Middle financial situation — i.e. long-term. Putting the carpet down in the park was really funny, though, and it was perfect that a bunch of kids would bike right over it.
Frankie’s creative, I’ll give her that. I would have never thought to set a sick Brick (Atticus Shaffer) up in the backseat of one of the cars on the lot. I liked her “wrong family” (wrong family) retort to Brick, although the second time to Axl (Charlie McDermott) was unnecessarily catch-phrasey. By the way: Axl’s a bit of a puzzle. One moment he’s dense and cartoonish, the next he’s just a regular kid. Is that a teen thing, or an inconsistency?
Sue (Eden Sher) is scary, and needs some professional help. I wonder, though: will she always just be a good diversionary laugh, or are there story lines for her that don’t end in laughter at her expense? Not that I mind, I just wonder if each kid is meant to have a role to play, or if they’re going to develop as the show does. That t-shirt was bad, but singing over the PA system? Man oh man.
Actually, the only thing I’m not sure of on the show is Chris Kattan as Bob. There’s just something about him — he feels off in a sitcom. I’m not sure if he’s meant to be a Craig Feldspar (Malcolm), but for me he’s better suited to things like Corky Romano (not that I enjoyed that), not something where he has access to children. Seeing him babysitting in the last scene last night got me thinking there could be something else to him, but he’ll need to stick to that kind of material for me to get on board.
If each actor on this show has their own joke writer, Neil Flynn’s is the Alpha:
“That’s why we taught you to walk.” – Mike’s response to Axl on what he’s to do if he doesn’t get his license for lack of practice
“Don’t do anything sexual; boys hate that.” – Mike to Sue, on attracting boys
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Oct 15, 2009 @ 13:00 EST5EDT
My theory is that Axl’s behavior is signified by his attire: regular, moody teenager in street clothes, or grumpy and half-awake in boxers. We’ll see if that holds true in future episodes.
Sue seemed softer this week without the unflattering glasses. I’m wondering if that change was both deliberate and permanent.
Her mom said last week that they got her contact lenses, so I guess she won’t have weird glasses anymore.
*POST AUTHOR*
Let’s put the Axl theory to the test … may the insanity begin! :)